The Blue Raiders probably could win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. They returned 10 of their 12 players who beat the University of Tennessee in the second round of the NIT after SSU lost to the Volunteers in the first round.

MTSU managed only 42.1 percent shooting from the field and suffered 21 turnovers Tuesday, but rode the hot hand of shooting guard Marcos Knight. The native of Rentz (outside of Dublin), who played at West Laurens High School, finished with a game-high 21 points, 19 coming in the second half.

“He put us on his shoulders,” Davis said.

Savannah State couldn’t match the offensive firepower in a game that quickly became a defensive struggle. The Tigers also committed 21 turnovers, made just 11 of 23 from the free-throw line and only 2 of 16 from 3-point range.

“We may see only one or two teams perform at that level in the MEAC,” said SSU coach Horace Broadnax about MTSU’s defensive effort. “It’s good to see where we are.”

The Tigers started quickly and jumped to a 16-4 lead.

But Middle Tennessee, picked by Sun Belt Conference coaches to win the East Division, didn’t fold. The Raiders pressured the Tigers perimeter by double teaming the ball.

SSU had only three field goals during the first 10 minutes and 26 seconds of the second half, and the Tigers’ 29-23 halftime lead turned into a 44-37 deficit.

The Tigers rallied and tied the game on Blackman’s steal and coast-to-coast layup at 52 with 3 minutes and 17 seconds left.

A pair of free throws by J.T. Sulton and Knight pushed Middle back into a 56-52 lead. Hassan answered with a layup and a free throw to complete a three-point play to make it 56-55 with 40.8 seconds left.

Bruce Massey sank two free throws with 9.6 seconds left.

“We didn’t do a good job against their pressure,” Broadnax said. “We talked about playing better in the first four minutes of the (second) half. But those are things we can address.”

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SSU Basketball has come a long way. MTSU averaged 100 pts in their pre-season and first game of the season. SSU held them to 58 pts. This shows how far this program has come under the leadership of Coach Broadnax. In the past they would have lost this game by 20. To have a legit Mid-Major come into Savannah and only win by 3 shows alot to the MEAC and to those that follow college basketball. For Coach Kermit Davis to say that SSU could win the Sun Belt is a big deal for a team that use to be the doormat in DI basketball. This will be another special year for this team, I hope to see them in the field of 68.